www.ijird.com
April, 2013
Vol 2 Issue 4
ISSN: 2278 – 0211 (Online)
Problem Faced By Physically Challenged Persons
And Their Awareness Towards Welfare Measures
C.Gobalakrishnan
Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Periyar University,Salem, India
Abstract:
The physically challenged persons are one of the excluded sections of the society and
also they face number of problems in their daily life. In order to bring them in the
main stream both the central as well as the state governments are introducing many
welfare measures and schemes. To avail these welfare measures and the schemes, first
of all they must aware about the same. The present study is conducted among the
physically challenged persons about their problems in the daily life and also their
awareness about various government welfare measures. The result of the present
study indicated that the officials who are implementing the welfare measures know
only few of the familiar welfare programmes of the physically challenged persons.
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1.Introduction
Disabled people are the people with physical or mental incapacities. Common physical
disabilities include blindness, deafness and paralysis, while common mental disabilities
include autism and the effects of Down’s syndrome. Disabilities generally vary in
severity. One person with Down’s syndrome for instance may be very limited in terms
of activities available while another person only relatively mildly affected may be able to
hold down a job and be much more self reliant.
There are four types of physically challenged, they are physically handicapped, Blind,
Deaf, and Dump. The term disabled suggests a state of helplessness; something which
falls short of the norm or standard viz., ’physical fitness’. Disability refers to any
limitation experienced by the impaired individual in comparison with the activities of the
unimpaired individual of similar age and sex.
2.Common Problems Of The Physically Challenged
The existing transportation and infrastructural facilities available to disabled are hardly
adequate.

Public transport related problem comprises the problems related t design of
the vehicles ( high and incompatible steps of vehicles from the platform level)

Road constraints involve encroachment of bus stops by vendors, temporary
structures and parked vehicles stopping of buses fat from actual bus bays.
Thus causing great inconvenience to them.

Feeling of insecurity by the disabled while traveling in private buses.

The disabled person is largely dependent on a family because they get
economically and emotional support from family. The disabled person also
gets emotional support from friends and relatives and also gets
encouragement.
The Government also as part of welfare measure introduced various welfare schemes to
benefit physically challenged persons. However, there exists a gap in the utilization of
the services. Hence, there is a need to study in detail about the problems, support
systems and utilization of rehabilitation measures introduced by various agencies. As a
matter of policy, Government has extended the rehabilitation programme in the field of
medical, education, psychological support etc., for disabled persons.
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The provisions of reservation of seats and the financial institutions providing loans and
assistance have to collect necessary information in order to identify the nature for
disability. While providing three wheelers, ambulatory services, armchairs, crutches
etc., to disabled persons, the low-income groups disabled should be give priority.
3.Social Problems For Disabled People
Disabled people sometimes have difficulty doing things and other people may take for
granted, such as travelling on public transport, climbing stairs or even using some house
hold appliances. However, the greatest challenge that disabled people have had to face
has been society’s misperception that they are the “breed apart”. Historically they have
been pitied, ignored, vilified-even hidden away in institutions.
Until the second half the 20th century, it was unfortunate today that the disabled people
have some abilities, needs and interests as the rest of the populations. Nevertheless,
discriminations continued to exist in certain important areas. Some employers were
reluctant to take on or promote disables people; some landlords refused to give the land
on rent to them; and courts sometimes deprived them of basic rights, including custody
of their children. In recent decades, this situation has undergone some positive changes
through adjustments in legislation and public attitudes. Also people with disabilities
have lobbied for their rights as full citizens and productive individuals.
4.Review Of Literature
The relevant literature pertaining to the present investigation reports on problem faced by
physically challenged persons and their rehabilitative measures. The main thrust of
research is to understand the type of problems experienced by the physically challenged
persons both within family and outside the family and their utilization of welfare
measures which are implemented by both the central as well as the state government.
Disability as a condition of impairment physically or mental is having an objective
aspect that can be usually described by a physician (Coft and Tindall, 1974). Impairment
is defined as any deviation from the normal which results in defective function, structure,
organization or development of whole or any part of the individual (Sussaman, 1977).
The term “crippled” or orthopedically “Handicapped” is restricted to one group among
the disabled, i.e. those who have physical defect or deformity which causes an
interference with the normal functioning of the bones, muscles and joints.
(Jansson,
1957). As said earlier orthopedically handicapped are those whose physical capacity is
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impaired by the loss, deformity or paralysis of one or more limbs. They are the victims
of diseases or injuries which after cure, leave behind a certain disability which is
permanent and lifelong (Government of India, Planning Commission, 1951-61).
The physically handicapped face problems as they attempt to adjust the demands of
living in social environment. Their problems are not only those caused by their disability
but also that of adjustment in a world that has apathetic or hostile attitude towards them
magnifies their troubles and threatens their very existence as human beings. They face
psychological, educational, employment and social problems. Among these, the most
difficult is the adjustment to the hostile social forces in the society (Sharma, 1981),
disabled person suffers with the erroneous beliefs, which dry up their day-to-day way of
life. It automatically generates a social resistance to accepting means of treating or
ameliorating disability (Nirmala, 1977). The above literature gives an account of the
problems experienced by the physically challenged and various welfare schemes
introduced by the government. Yet very few empirical studies are available regarding the
utilization of welfare services. In order to fill this research gap the present study being
conducted among the physically challenged persons.
5.Methodology
The study is combination of both exploratory as well as descriptive in nature. The study
is conducted within the urban limits of Puducherry and the beneficiaries are identified
through the list available in the Social Welfare Department, Government of Puducherry
and later 50 respondents are selected through accidental sampling method. The interview
schedule is used as a tool to collect the data from the respondents. The schedule contains
personal profile of the physically challenged persons and their awareness on the various
welfare schemes of the government.
6.Results And Discussion
Among the 50 respondents, three fourth of the respondents are males and the remaining
one third are females. A greater proportion of the employed work as coolies (60%) and
three respondents work in white collar jobs (6%) and two fifth of the respondents earn
less than 1499 rupees per month and one third of respondents are not working since they
are students and aged people. Respondents in the age group 15 and 29 years are more
confident (40%) in facing problems. Considering respondents marital status one half are
married. A little above one half of respondents are orthopedically handicapped while
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12% are blind, 6% are deaf and 12% are mentally disordered and one in ten is deaf and
dumb.
One third of respondents have a family size of three members while the
educational qualification of the respondents show that one fifth of are illiterates and a
similar proportion are educated up to middle school and high school. Majority of the
respondents move from one place to another place on their own without others help and
the one third of respondents is dependent on others. Half of the respondents express that
they are treated with discrimination, both inside and outside the family, three fourth of
respondents report low self esteem as they are not earning money and unable to
communicate properly. Greater proportion of respondents reported that they receive
high level emotional support from family members, whereas others get moderate level of
emotional support.
A great proportion consider themselves as a burden to family
because since they are not in a position t support their family members in any way, while
three out of ten express that their inability to financially support their family in a major
setback.
Social Welfare department organizes tour every year for three to four days for the
physically challenged persons. Only nine respondents have attended such tours. Except
one all respondents have received financial assistance, two fifth of respondents have
received the identity card but many of them feel it was not much use. All respondents
have received 10 kgs of rice per month but they complained that it was not regular. One
fourth of the respondents have participated in awareness camp and four respondents have
utilized welfare schemes for the professional training for typewriting and computer
course. Three fourth of the respondents came to know about various welfare scheme
from the Anganwadi workers, Two third of respondents stated that they follow cinema
actors as role models in their life. Two fifth of respondents read books ding the free
time.
In the light of the above analysis, it is possible to outline certain basic tenets in planning
for rehabilitation. Respondents express that increase in amount of financial assistance
and scholarships would be beneficial. Government should also take steps to create
awareness about the welfare schemes through the Anganwadi workers, Television,
Radio, Newspapers. Respondents also opine that it would be beneficial if government
give money for travel rather than the bus pass since they have to wait only for
government buses to travel. Suitable self employment opportunities should be provided
for all physically challenged person Rehabilitation attempt should be functional and
should enable the physically challenged persons to be economically independent, provide
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capacity, building and integrate them into the society. Rehabilitation should be viewed
as total community service involving a combination of preventive, curative and servicing
aspects. Government should ensure that every child with a disability has access to a free
education in an appropriate environment until he /she attains 18 years of age. It is
observed that the physically challenged people do not consider disability as a problem.
They are confident of performing jobs but only when they are depressed. They feel that
they are unable do the work.
7.Conclusion
Most of the officials and Anganwadi workers are not aware of the various government
schemes which introduced for the welfare of the physically challenged. In general, they
are only aware about financial assistance and provisions of 10 Kg. of rice per month but
they are not aware of other types of welfare schemes and measures. Therefore it is
necessary for the officials and other service providers must know the various welfare
schemes of the physically challenged and that in turn help them to introduce the same to
the beneficiaries. The new schemes should be given sufficient publicity and awareness
campaigns should be conducted at various level. The respondents also stated that it takes
more time for processing of their requests and availing benefits. Therefore a genuine
attempt has to be made to remove any discrimination in sharing the development
benefits, there by integrating this group into society’s mainstream.
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8.Reference
1. Coft, L. & Tindall, R. (1974). Definition of the Handicap: As a Function of Age
and Sex. Psychological Report, 119(98), 10.
2. Jansson, K. (1957). “The Social and Economic Basis and Objectives
Rehabilitation”, Seminar on Rehabilitation of the Physically Handicapped for
Participants from Asia and the Far East, 26 August-7 September.
3. Nirmala, K. (1977). Existing Social Barriers and Community Attitudes and Law
Concerning the Disabled, Seminar Report on Legislation Concerning the
Disabled. Indian Council of Social Work, Mumbai, 15.
4. Planning Commission, Government of India. (1951-61). Plans and prospects of
Social Welfare in India, 53.
5. Sharma, S.L. (1981). Changing Social Structure and Status of the Disabled. Open
Hand, 11(6), 21.
6. Sussaman, H.B. (1977). Dependent Disabled and Dependent Poor: Similarity of
Conceptual Issues (Ed.) Social and Psychological Aspects of Disability. London
University Park Press, 247-59.
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